Weekend Wind-Down #149

Last weekend, Missy and I hit the road, traveling northbound to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to spend the week of 4th of July with Missy's family. Our first stop on the road was in Cowpens, South Carolina, at ABBOTT FARMS, where we stocked up on road trip snacks...

















A familiar sight on our yearly road trip up north is the giant ass-shaped PEACH WATER TOWER in Gaffney, South Carolina:





We also always pass the MR. WAFFLE restaurant on our way up to Pittsburgh, always saying that we should stop there someday. On this trip, we finally did, if only to take some photos of their vintage-looking sign and decor:







A flipped-over car in Virginia was a sober reminder to drive carefully...and to maybe not take photos while driving:



We stayed the whole week with Missy's older brother, Greg, and his wife, Cristina. Every morning we were greeted by colored sunshine streaming through the antique STAINED GLASS WINDOW in their guest bedroom - one of many in their 1930's-built home (click HERE to see some of their other pretty stained glass windows)



At Missy's parents' house, her younger brother, Joe, showed off one of the vintage motorcycles he rebuilt by driving all over the front yard. And then Missy's Aunt Monica, showed off her painted toe nails...

















Missy getting gardening tips from her mom in the backyard:







FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - Getting to have a vacation and seeing my family! and petting the deer at the zoo!
RAOUL - The moment we arrived in Pennsylvania and many moments after that. The moment Greg and Cristina got their A/C fixed was pretty awesome too.

WORST MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - The power being out through West Virginia and worrying about running out of gas.
RAOUL - Horrendous traffic in North Carolina and Virginia on the way up. Also, no gas or electricity in the entire state of West Virginia...how can an entire states' electrical grid be that weak and inefficient? We had to drive through West Virginia hoping we wouldn't run out of gas before we made it to the Pennsylvania border.

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - Watching Greg do his booty dance.
RAOUL - Missy and Greg's rendition of the "Spiderman, Batman, Ironman booty dance at kids' party"

WORD OR PHRASE OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - "Bazinga poster"
RAOUL - "Oh my gah...ELECTRO LATINO!"

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - Authentic liege waffles from Waffalonia.
RAOUL - The jerk soyrizo tacos from Casa Rasta. Oh my gah.

WORST MEAL OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - Oof...yinzer pizza.
RAOUL - That nondescript slice of pizza from that nondescript pizza place in The Strip.

FAVORITE PITTSBURGH ATTRACTION FROM THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - I liked the zoo because we hadn't been there in years.
RAOUL - The Warhol is a perennial favorite...but I also thought touring the submarine at the Science Center was cool...tied with finally getting to ride on the incline.

PERSONAL GOAL FOR THIS WEEK?
MISSY - Clean up the craft room some.
RAOUL - Get all the photos I took last week processed and posted.

PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK FOR THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY - Alessi's Ark, Rachael Dadd, Hive Dwellers, R.E.M., The Decemberists, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Calvin Johnson, Mark Robinson, Professor Blast Off podcast.
RAOUL - Morrissey, The Smiths, De La Soul, R.E.M., Jean Jacques Perry & Luke Vibert, Louis Philippe, Versus, Halo Benders, Hive Dwellers, Sub-Pop's The John Peel Sub-Pop Sessions comp, K Records' Project Echo comp, Finest Worksongs R.E.M. tribute comp